Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
DrTheatre
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/05
#1Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 11:42am
I have a question about the MAMMA MIA movie. I noticed that every time I watch many versions of the trailer....they show a clip of Amanda (Sophie),jumping from her bed in as if she was having a bad dream....can someone please tell me in order to make the musical #s work, is this to be considered all a dream?
oh, and how is the movie?
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Updated On: 5/19/08 at 11:42 AM
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#2re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 11:53am
I know this sounds far-fetched but not ALL future movie musicals are using that CHICAGO movie musical idea. In fact, CHICAGO is the ONLY movie musical to have used that concept so let it go. 
Yes, I've seen MAMMA MIA! at a Universal Pictures 'office' screening and yes... the film is basically a carbon-copy of the stage-version -- a traditional musical. The characters sing to each other, etc. The closest number to a 'dream' sequence is the "Money, Money, Money" song/number where Donna evisions the life she could be living in a fantasy/dream sequence. That's it. Then she snaps back to reality at the song's end.
That snippet of Sophie (Amanda) bolting up in the bed is from a nightmare -- the "Under Attack" sequence from the musical. Though the song/number isn't in the film, the sequence is.
Hope this helped clear-up some confusion.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#2re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:33pmBrody, what is the overall quality of the film Mamma Mia? Is it better than Hairspray or not? And what about the performance of Meryl Streep? Is her performance the highlight of the whole film ?
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#3re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:58pm
Putting it midly, MAMMA MIA! makes the 2007 film-version of HAIRSPRAY look like a made-for-Disney Channel-cable movie. The production values in MAMMA MIA! are lavish and gorgeous, thanks to the location filming on various Greek islands. The 'look' alone of the film is its own character. Every second of the film just seemed to work flawlessly -- it was a smooth and easy film to watch AND even with ALL those songs/numbers.
Though I did enjoy the film-version of HAIRSPRAY, I feel it missed the essence of the Broadway production and tweaked too much of the plot to ruin it... plus I was disappointed with the film's version of "Welcome to the 60's". It could have been done as an enormous explosion of flamboyance and dream-like spectacle (like it is on stage with Edna in flowing chiffon, etc.). Instead we had Travolta in a bland pink cheap looking sequined dress and a simple flip. Oh, and a boring street dance break with 30 boring dancers. Urgh! What a disappoinment.
Meryl Streep was simply born to play this role (Donna Sheridan) which brings every centimeter of her talents full circle. For all the obvious reasons, her performance stands alone but so do numerous others in the film. Its really hard to pinpoint any 'better than others' as its really an ensemble film... just like the stage-version. Everyone has their moment to shine.
Basically, the film-version of MAMMA MIA! improves on the stage-version triple-folds. Even those who don't like the stage-version or even ABBA... LOVED the film. It was just a treat to watch. Yes, its a chick-flick. Yes, its cheesy and a tad preditable... but oh what a fun experience it is.
#4re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:01pmBrody, thanks for your thoughts on the film. Besides Indiana Jones and SATC, this is really the only thing I am looking forward to seeing in the theater this summer.
#5re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:41pmDoes the lyric change to the title song remain? On the second verse in the song ABBA sang "and when you go, when you slammed the door, I think you know that you won't be away too long, you know that I'm not that strong." In the cast recording they just repeat the bridge from the first verse. I assume the lyrics were changed to fit the storyline (not familiar with the stage version), but I don't like the change.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#6re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:48pmDo you think any Oscar nods could come from it? I would suspect not...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#7re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:50pm
Thank you for your insight, BrodyFosse123
I can't wait to see it.
How was Pierce?
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#8re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:57pm
Unlike HAIRSPRAY, MAMMA MIA! does have that Oscar feel to it. Mostly due to the cast involved and its production level it feels and looks like an Oscar contender.
The Academy voters seem to validate and appreciate when actors do their own singing (even lip-synced performances like Jessica Lange in SWEET DREAMS) so Meryl could be possibly be acknowledged for this. Anything is possible. Even Julie Walters' Rosie or Amanda Seyfried's Sophie. Maybe Pierce Brosnan could finally get his due for his Sam? Again... anything is possible.
DREAMGIRLS turned into a multi-award winning film even with its weaknesses so... anything is possible with MAMMA MIA!
madophelia
Stand-by Joined: 11/25/05
#9re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 6:13pmHow is Colin Firth as Harry? He's done two jokey duets with Rupert Everett in a couple of movies and does play the guitar. Test audience comments on IMDB did say that Pierce's voice was pretty weak, so I wondered how Colin fared.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#10re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/19/08 at 9:35pm
My mother saw this in March at a test screening. She got a card to fill out comments. She had not seen the stage version. She thought it was "ok". Her biggest problem was with the May-December secondary storyline. She also wasn't thrilled with the basic idea of Donna not knowing who the father is. My mother is liberal in many things - and pretty conservative in others. She did love Meryl Streep however. She also thought the locations looked incredible.
It will be interesting to see the conservative media and religious "leader" reaction when the movie is released about the Donna "situation". As a stage show, the mass media really doesn't care. As a big budget movie - well, if they'll attack Murphy Brown, let's see what happens in July.
madophelia
Stand-by Joined: 11/25/05
#11re: Who has seen special screenings of MAMMA MIA?
Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:43amThe Murphy Brown controversy was over 15 years ago. Times have changed, and the groups you referenced are being pretty quiet.
